Pelargonium plant named ‘Amri Pikegs’

ABSTRACT

A new  Pelargonium  plant named ‘Amri Pikegs,’ particularly distinguished by the large flower size, pink flower color with bold red-purple blotch, medium green foliage, good vigor and branching.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Pelargoniumhortorum.

Varietal denomination: ‘Amri Pikegs’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new Pelargonium, botanically known asPelargonium hortorum, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name‘Amri Pikegs.’

‘Amri Pikegs’ is a product of a planned breeding program. The newcultivar ‘Amri Pikegs’ has a large flower size, pink flower color withbold red-purple blotch, medium green foliage, good vigor and branching.

‘Amri Pikegs’ originated from a hybridization in a controlled breedingprogram in Gilroy, Calif. USA. The female parent was an unpatentedhybrid seedling identified as ‘9754-1.’ ‘9754-1’ has pink splash colorwith smaller splash pattern, a darker pink-rose flower color and lessvigor than ‘Amri Pikegs.’

The male parent of ‘Amri Pikegs’ was an unpatented hybrid seedlingidentified as ‘10071-2.’ ‘10071-2’ has white splash color, with smallerflowers, is less floriferous and has a white background flower colorcompared to ‘Amri Pikegs.’

‘Amri Pikegs’ was selected as one flowering plant within the progeny ofthe stated cross in 2005 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif.USA.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Amri Pikegs’ was accomplishedwhen vegetative cuttings were propagated from the initial selection inNovember 2005 in a controlled environment in Gilroy, Calif. USA.

Horticultural examination of plants grown from cuttings of the plantinitiated in November 2005 in Gilroy, Calif. USA, and continuingthereafter, has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Amri Pikegs’ are firmly fixed and are retainedthrough successive generations of asexual reproduction.

‘Amri Pikegs’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length.

A Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar was applied for in Canada onDec. 24, 2007. ‘Amri Pikegs’ has not been made publicly available morethan one year prior to the filing of this application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Amri Pikegs’ with colors being as true as possiblewith an illustration of this type. The photographic drawing shows aflowering potted plants of the new variety and a close-up of theflowers.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The measurements were taken in Salinas, Calif. USA, in July 2008 onplants that were growing in one gallon pots. Culture of these plantsstarted in a greenhouse in February 2008 and were transferred to theoutdoors in mid June 2008 under semi-shade. The plants wereapproximately 4–5 months old.

-   Color Chart used: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart    (R.H.S.) 2001.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The following observations, measurements, and comparisons describeplants grown outside in Gilroy, Calif., USA. The following traits havebeen repeatedly observed and are determined to be basic characteristicsof the new variety. The combination of these characteristicsdistinguishes this Pelargonium as a new and distinct variety.

TABLE 1 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NEW VARIETY AND A SIMILAR VARIETY‘Fisrix’ (U.S. Plant Pat. ‘Amri Pikegs’ No. 7,422) Foliage color Mediumgreen Dark green Flower color Larger splash/blotch Smaller splash/blotchPlant size Larger plant habit Smaller plant habit Pedicel/Peduncle sizeBoth are shorter Both are longer

-   Plant:    -   -   Form, growth and habit.—Upright and rounded growth habit.            Well-branched.        -   Plant height.—27–30 cm.        -   Plant height (inflorescence included).—33–36 cm.        -   Plant width.—40–48 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Immature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137B with a little            more yellowish Lower surface: RHS 137B.        -   Mature, leaf color, upper surface.—RHS 137B but a little            more yellowish Lower surface: RHS 137B.        -   Length.—5.8–6.4 cm.        -   Width.—9.5–10.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Orbicular.        -   Base shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Medium lobed; irregularly crenate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Hirsute, glandular hairs.        -   Lower surface.—Hirsute, glandular hairs.        -   Color of zone.—No zone.        -   Color of veins, upper surface.—Indistinct.        -   Color of veins, lower surface.—RHS 138A.        -   Petioles color.—RHS 138A.        -   Petioles length.—6.5–14 cm.        -   Diameter of petiole.—0.3 cm.        -   Texture.—Hirsute; glandular hairs.-   Stem:    -   -   Color of stem.—RHS 144A.        -   Length of stem.—19–23 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.6–0.9 cm.        -   Length of internodes.—2.0–2.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Heavy in glandular hairs; hirsute.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—An umbel composed of 20 flowers and buds.        -   Average number of umbels per plant.—25.        -   Umbel diameter.—8–10 cm.        -   Umbel depth.—5–5.5 cm.        -   Color of peduncle.—RHS 144A.        -   Length of peduncle.—10–13 cm.        -   Peduncle diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Texture.—Glandular hairs; hirsute.        -   Pedicel color.—RHS 144A with anthocyanin of RHS 176B.        -   Length of pedicel.—3.0–3.4 cm.        -   Diameter of pedicel.—0.2 cm.        -   Texture.—Glandular hairs; hirsute.-   Corolla:    -   -   Form.—Polypetalous, overlapping.        -   Number of petals.—5.        -   Width of flower.—5.4–5.6 cm.        -   Depth of flower.—1.0–1.5 cm.        -   Color upper petals, upper surface.—Between RHS 73B and RHS            73C ground color; RHS N57A (but more red) blotch with a RHS            N57B edge; RHS N57B speckles toward the apex; occasionally            an outer margin of RHS 73A; RHS 60C veins.        -   Color upper petals, lower surface.—RHS 73B.        -   Length of upper petals.—3.0–3.1 cm.        -   Width of upper petals.—2.3–2.6 cm.        -   Color lower petals, upper surface.—Between RHS 73B and C            ground color; RHS N57A (but more red) blotch with a RHS N57B            edge; RHS N57B speckles toward the apex; occasionally an            outer margin of RHS 73A.        -   Color lower petals, lower surface.—RHS 73B.        -   Length of lower petals.—2.3–2.8 cm.        -   Width of lower petals.—2.6–2.8 cm.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Petal texture.—Papillose.        -   Number of petaloids.—None.        -   Duration of flowering.—Continuous flowering throughout the            Summer.        -   Lastingness of the flowers.—About one week.-   Bud (when sepals first divide):    -   -   Color.—RHS 55B.        -   Length.—1.0–1.3 cm.        -   Width.—0.5–0.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Number of sepals.—5, fused at the base.        -   Color of sepals.—RHS 144A.        -   Length of sepals.—0.8–0.9 cm.        -   Width of sepals.—0.3–0.5 cm.        -   Sepal shape.—Linear to lanceolate.        -   Apex shape.—Acute.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth.        -   Lower surface.—Hirsute.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Pistil.—1.        -   Length.—1.0–1.2 cm.        -   Style color.—RHS 67A.        -   Style length.—0.4 cm.        -   Stigma color.—RHS 61B.        -   Number of anthers.—6–8.        -   Length filaments.—0.4–0.6 cm.        -   Color of filaments.—RHS N155B but whiter with RHS 67A at the            anthers.        -   Pollen amount.—Moderate.        -   Color of pollen.—RHS N25A.        -   Fertility/seed set.—Not observed on this hybrid.-   Disease/pest resistance: Disease resistance and/or susceptibility    has not been observed on this hybrid.

1. A new and distinct variety of Pelargonium plant named ‘Amri Pikegs,’substantially as illustrated and described herein.